Ranker’s Return

“Noona, it’s now,” Lee Hoon said as he looked at the Ellen Waze players and soldiers running out of the gate. He didn’t panic. It was a situation that had emerged countless times in their strategy meetings.

‘Don’t tremble,’ Lee Hoon told himself inwardly. He still trembled slightly though. In fact, this moment was Crescent Moon’s actual debut. Last week was Alley Leader’s debut, rather than the team’s, since he handled everything alone from start to finish.

“I know. Just use it all, right?” Sunny knew what she needed to do, but she wanted to confirm it. She was afraid she might make a mistake.

Yuri noticed how Sunny was feeling and nodded before saying, “Just use your magic power. I’ll buff you.” 

Then she cast a buff that sped up magic power recovery.

[You have been baptized by moonlight.]

[Magic power will continue to recover.]

[Movement speed has increased.]

“Yes.” Sunny confirmed Yuri’s buff and immediately revealed all the undead she could create. Knights wearing colorful armor appeared without making a sound. All of the knights were headless. Their heads were in their hands. They were the headless knights, the dullahans.

After the dullahans, the magicians emerged in gorgeous robes that weren’t inferior to the dullahans’ armor. These magicians were skeleton mages. In addition...

Finally, three undead were added. Knights appeared riding skeletal horses surrounded by black flames. The dullahans were also riding horses, but the knights who appeared now were twice as large as them. There were only three of these knights, but they showed a more overwhelming presence than the dozens of dullahans. These were death knights. They emitted a black aura of death that attracted attention.

Sunny waved her staff at the summoned undead. Black air currents shot out from the bead at the end of the staff and were absorbed into the undead’s bodies.

“I’m ready,” Sunny spoke with a slightly pale expression after casting a buff on the undead.

“I feel this way every time I see it, but it’s a really good class. I’m envious,” Lee Hoon murmured with admiration.

There was also a lot of envy in his voice. The undead Sunny summoned were all powerful undead. There was no need to even mention the dullahans and skeleton mages as only a few necromancers could summon the formidable death knights. Sunny was able to summon a death knight with a class skill, but most regular necromancers didn’t have the Death Knight Summoning skill. They had to get a skill book and learn it separately.

“So why don’t you give your control to Noona? Then you can play as a necromancer,” Mason told Lee Hoon after hearing his words.

Lee Hoon shook his head quickly and said, “That’s okay. I’m happy as a paladin.”

He absolutely didn’t want to change if that was the case. Sunny’s rare class was definitely enviable, but getting Sunny’s control in return was the worst. It was even more horrible because he had experienced it personally by her side.

“The two of you, focus. From now on, there is no time to say anything else,” Yuri criticized Lee Hoon and Mason. It wasn’t good to be unable to perform due to excessive tension, but it wasn’t good to be too relaxed either.

“As we practiced, Lee Hoon and the undead will take the front. Mason and the skeleton mages will cast magic from behind. Dwayne, protect us,” Yuri once again reminded them of what they had prepared.

She wasn’t saying it because she was worried the others had forgotten. Instead, it was to build up tension for everyone, including her.

Sunny looked at the Ellen Waze players running in the distance and gave orders to the undead: “The dullahans and death knights will go forward to fight. Skeleton mages, come to my side to prepare magic.”

It was the start of a full-fledged siege.

***

‘They are fighting well.’ Hyeonu watched the five members of Crescent Moon and six members of Ellen Waze fight in the distance.

Originally, the other Crescent Moon players thought that Hyeonu would do something—anything—at this point. However, Hyeonu did nothing. He didn’t cross the walls alone or try to break the gate. He just watched. This was why he was alone today.

‘Prove it here for sure.’ Hyeonu wanted them to show that they weren’t Alley Leader’s folding screens but true members of Crescent Moon. Thus, he was now taking a step back. ‘You just have to show what you have prepared.’

Hyeonu knew the players’ efforts better than anyone else.

***

“Ah!!! Sunny’s undead are tying up Ellen Waze’s feet very well. Something incredible is happening!!” Commentator Lee Wanghoon, who was to the left of Jang Junhyung, shouted.

Things had become very strange now. The Crescent Moon without Alley Leader wasn’t being heavily pushed by Ellen Waze as everyone had expected.

“Of course, it’s a battle with half the members of Ellen Waze, but Crescent Moon only has five people without Alley Leader!”

The remaining six members of Ellen Waze were standing on the wall to stop Hyeonu’s surprise actions. This would’ve been the same response for any player, not just Hyeonu. Once everyone ran out, they would experience a humiliating defeat if the opponent crossed the wall, entered the castle, and occupied the inner office. They would lose without even fighting properly.

Most professional games ended with the army being wiped out. It was rare for the inner office to be occupied. Therefore, it was a humiliation to be defeated by occupation.

“Ah!!! The soldiers of Ellen Waze have been wiped out. Crescent Moon’s soldiers are so strong. In particular, the ones in black armor are slaughtering indiscriminately.”

Just then, Ellen Waze’s situation turned dark. During the time when they were being tied down by Sunny’s undead and Lee Hoon, the soldiers they’d brought with them failed to put up a fight against Phinis’ soldiers and knights and died.

“If this happens, their psychological state will be affected. Crescent Moon’s soldiers aren’t very threatening, but they aren’t negligible!” Chae Yunho, the commentator on the other side of Lee Wanghoon, added.

Soldiers were obviously weak compared to players, so their defeat wasn’t unexpected. Nevertheless, the psychological burden of being surrounded was unavoidable. This was when Mason’s magic filled the meadow. It was his first time casting a spell on the professional stage, and Mason’s debut was very flashy.

The ground shook and cracked. Sharp dirt spears rose from between them. Just these alone made it seem like a common magic in Arena, but the range was different. Dozens of earth spears rose into the air as the ground around the Ellen Waze players shook.

“This is Mason’s magic... Really amazing. It isn’t lacking at all compared to the world’s most famous magician players!”

Yet Mason’s attack was in vain. It was because Ellen Waze’s best ace, Park Hanjong, used his skills to scatter the magic power around him.

“Ahhhh!!”

The hard dirt spears were broken down like dry sand as Park Hanjong nullified all of them at once.

“The problem is that all the buffs on Park Hanjong have disappeared after he used that skill! This is a crisis for Ellen Waze.”

However, that move was accompanied by risk. All the buffs on Park Hanjong’s body disappeared in exchange for getting rid of Mason’s magic. Crescent Moon didn’t miss this chance. Three skeletons kicked against the dirt ground and soared into the air. Simultaneously, Lee Hoon also started running quickly. They had one purpose—to deal a critical hit during the moment when Park Hanjong was weakened.

Park Hanjong’s presence in Ellen Waze was even greater than that of Hyeonu in Crescent Moon. This was an opportunity, so they had to deal damage to him.

White energy covered Lee Hoon’s running body. Soon, the energy formed a shape—a huge shield with powerful energy.

“This is an essential skill for shield paladins. It is Call of Powerful Energy. It’s a good charging skill that has a high chance of causing stuns after hitting the opponent. The biggest advantage is that most people ignore abnormal statuses.”

It was just like Lee Wanghoon said. Call of Powerful Energy was a charging skill accompanied by CC (crowd control). It was a skill that worked better than any other skill in a situation like this. Lee Hoon didn’t stop charging. He clung to Park Hanjong, and the shields of the two people collided. It might not be as good as Call of Powerful Energy, but Park Hanjong used a skill to increase his defense. Even so, he was pushed badly.

The difference was due to the buffs. Lee Hun was also a top ranker. If his standard was different from Park Hanjong, it would be higher, not lower.

“Is it because there are no buffs? Park Hanjong is being pushed. Once Park Hanjong is pushed, there is no one to stop the death knights.”

Covered in ominous black air currents, the death knights’ long swords swept through the bodies of the Ellen Waze players.

“Ellen Waze can block it one time with a barrier. Still, there are three death knights!!”

The initial attack was blocked because the magician of Ellen Waze reacted quickly and used defense magic. However, there were three death knights, so two subsequent attacks remained. The skeletal horses ran roughly while a dark light shone in the death knights’ eyes.

Simultaneously, an ominous black air current was fired. Red blood gushed out, and Ellen Waze’s magician fell. Something was stuck in the fallen magician. Mason had used magic to dig a wound into the opposing magician.

“Crescent Moon has shown perfect teamwork! One Ellen Waze player is out. The tanker charged, and the damage dealer finished it off. It is an ideal cooperation.”

The flow of the fierce battle started to tilt sharply. Even with six people, Ellen Waze didn’t have a clear advantage. Now their number was reduced to five, so it was no wonder that the battle became tougher. Crescent Moon smoothly brought the flow to their side.

Meanwhile, Dwayne’s fists moved like they were on fire. His fists were engulfed in bright pure energy as he struck the abdomen of the opponent aiming a sword at Yuri. There was the sound of something bursting, and the opponent’s body soared high into the air.

Dwayne kicked off hard against the ground and followed his opponent, swinging his hands strongly in a downward manner. The waist of the Ellen Waze player was struck, and he quickly fell toward the ground. Then Dwayne dealt the finishing blow to the falling opponent. His pure energy showed a ferocious force as it pierced the back of the Ellen Waze player.

“The fact that Ellen Waze failed to defeat Crescent Moon when it was six against five means that the rest of the players of Crescent Moon deserve to be professional players as well,” Chae Yunho expressed his feelings about the battle that ended in Crescent Moon’s victory.

After that, his eyes shifted to the other side. Hyeonu had started to move.

***

‘This should be enough?’ Hyeonu smiled as he watched his teammates fight like they had practiced. It was a relief because their efforts shone through. No one would discredit them now.

‘They are the people that I’ve gathered...’

Even if he pretended not to, he could still sense that Crescent Moon's battle was now reaching the end.

‘I have to finish it.’

This was enough for their role. Hyeonu had to wrap things up. He couldn’t just act as a passenger on a bus. So, Hyeonu got up from his spot and stroked the head of Tang-E, who was sitting beside him.

“Tang-E, warm up. Today, you will fight as well, but don’t use Giant Transformation. Got it?”

“I understand, Master dude. Tang-E will fight.” Tang-E nodded and bumped his front paws together.